Four Accused of Obstructing Ohio Rape Case

A school superintendent and three others have been indicted in connection with a high-profile Ohio rape case that shocked a community and drew national headlines for how word of the incident spread on social media.

Mike McVey, the Steuebenville schools superintendent, was among those charged, and state Attorney General Mike DeWine accused McVey on Monday of felony tampering with evidence and obstructing justice when authorities sought to investigate allegations that high school football players raped a drunk student. A school principal, a wrestling coach and a volunteer football coach were also charged on several misdemeanor counts. McVey or a lawyer representing him have yet to comment on the charges. The team’s head football coach was not charged.

The charges stem from a special grand jury probe that followed the March rape convictions of Steubenville High School football players Ma’lik Richmond and Trenton Mays for raping a 16-year-old girl in 2012. Authorities commissioned a review of the case to see if any school officials concealed the incident, or were aware of it and failed to report it as required by law.

“How do you hold kids accountable if you don’t hold adults accountable?” DeWine said at a news conference. “It is time to let Steubenville move on.”

The grand jury indicted a school technology official on charges of tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, obstructing official business and perjury in October. DeWine signaled that further indictments are unlikely.

“Barring some unforeseen, newly discovered evidence, the work of the grand jury is done,” he said.